Public Launch of “Olympia’s Hidden Histories” and Peacemaker Gallery

The public launch for Olympia’s Hidden Histories walking tours, which will include speakers from the Squaxin Island Tribe, Olympia Historical Society, and Locke Family Association, will be at the Olympia-Rafah Solidarity Mural (Capitol and State) on Friday, October 7 (the first day of Fall Arts Walk) at 10:00-11:00 am. The audience will be invited to walk the web-based multimedia tours on smartphones; no app download is needed. The tours collection can be accessed by scanning the QR Code or going to https://arcg.is/1O5D0a.

The Olympia-Rafah Solidarity Mural Project and Art Forces are also launching a new exhibition space, tentatively called “Peacemaker Gallery.” The inaugural show will intersect with the publication of Olympia’s Hidden Histories, and will showcase collaborative and local art connecting to the themes of history and connection found in the Hidden Histories Walking tours and Olympia-Rafah Solidarity mural.  The gallery on the second floor of the historic Labor Temple Building at 119 Capitol Way N. will be open to the public 11am-9pm, Friday, October 7th, and 12-5pm, Saturday, October 8th. 

For those who can’t make the  Friday morning launch of Olympia’s Hidden Histories, walking tour information will be available at the Olympia-Rafah Solidarity Mural site throughout Arts Walk weekend.

“Olympia’s Hidden Histories” Launch – Program Schedule:

-Opening drum and welcome to Steh-Chass land: Charlene Krise and Jeremiah George (Squaxin Island Museum)

-Welcome to event: Zoltán Grossman, Kristina Ackley, Mike Ruth (Evergreen faculty)

-Welcome to Olympia-Rafah Solidarity Mural: Susan Greene and Lindsey Dalthorp (Art Forces) and Cindy Corrie (Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice)

-Steh-Chass tour: Chairman Kristopher Peters (Squaxin Island Tribe)

Evergreen students (Steh-Chass Team): Nico Maynes or James Martinez

-Tidelands tour: Edward Echtle (Olympia Historical Society)

Evergreen students (Tidelands Team): Kaiah Costa

-Chinatowns tour: Ron Locke (Locke Family Association);

Evergreen students (Chinatowns Team): Tucker Morehouse

-Dam tour: Ali Johnson (Salmon Defense)

Evergreen students (Dam Team): Arlo Dolven

-Closing: Gratitude to partners, and invitation to navigate tours and visit the gallery

-Group photo

The tours collection produced by Evergreen students is part of the “Walls Tell Stories, Olympia” project, created by Art Forces (based in Olympia and the San Francisco Bay Area) and supported by the Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice (Olympia). “Walls Tell Stories” is partially funded by Humanities Washington, the National Endowment for Humanities (NEH), Handleman Fund, and by a Thurston County Heritage Grant (recommended by the Thurston County Historic Commission and awarded by the Thurston County Board of Commissioners). The launch event is partially funded by a Mellon Foundation grant (via the Evergreen Dean’s Office).